Make-A-Wish helps sulcatas (Turtles All The Way Down)

Make-A-Wish helps sulcatas

"When Nick Gleissner was offered a gift through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he asked for a new home for Elvis, Emily and Paul, his three African Spurred tortoises.

On Saturday, the habitat in the Gleissners' backyard was revealed to about 60 family members and friends from school, church and work.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire accepted Nick's application about six months ago.

President and CEO Mark Pilon said about 50 of the approximately 300 wishes his chapter awards each year are creative projects such as the tortoise habitat.

Pilon called on personal friend Richard Orr for help because he knew his wife, Betty, had raised tortoises for years.

Orr designed and renovated the Gleissners' 123-by-44-foot backyard into an oasis of lush lawn, a large patio and a tortoise enclosure that includes a log cabin, waterfall, pond and heating lamps for cold winter nights.

"It's even better than I thought it would be," said Nick. "It is really neat." "

Posted by turtledown on May 29, 2007 8:34 PM | Permalink

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Like the header says, this blog is devoted to all things chelonian. I hope you will visit often, post comments, and e-mail me if you have any interesting turtle information. In the meantime please read up on tortoise happenings by scrolling down ... all the way down.

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